CHESTERFIELD, MISSOURI — Corn planting surged even further ahead of the five-year average last week, according to a report released on April 25 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With 30% of total corn acres planted by April 24, progress surpassed the five-year average for this point by 14 percentage points, 10 percentage points further ahead of the average than this time one week ago.
  
Progress surpassed the five-year average by 50 percentage points in Missouri, with Iowa and Minnesota both more than 30 percentage points planted over the five-year average as well. Only Texas lagged behind the five-year average by more than five points.

 
The USDA also released its first forecast of the percentage of corn emerged this week. While planting ran far ahead of the five-year average, the percentage of the corn crop emerged surpassed the five-year average by only one percentage point. Again, Missouri saw progress the furthest ahead of the average, with 24% of corn acres emerged. The state normally sees only 10% emergence by this point.
 
To view the full report, clickhere